Sheet conveyer



` H. E.. EDWARDS SHEET CONVEYER Filed No May 16, 1933.

Sheet 1 INVENT R ATTORNEYS ets- Vi g

- www May 16, 1933. H. E. EDWARDS SHEET CONVEYER Filed Nov. 27, 1928 `4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ards ,a @oa/ww ATTORNEYS May 16, w33. H. E. EDWARDS SHEET CONVEYEH Filed Nov. 27, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS May i6, 1933. Hl E. EDWARDS 1,909,668

SHEET CONVEYER ATTORNEYS Patented May 16, 1933 nia-irren STATES PATENT OFFCE HARRY E. EDWARDS, OF NILES, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDVARD R. EDWARDS, OF NILES, OHIO SHEET CONVEYER Application led. November 27, 1928. Serial No. 322,195.

This invention relates to portable conveyers and, among other objects, aims to provide an improved self-propelled conveyer having provision for picking up stacks of metal Y sheets on a shop or plant floor and transfer ring them to a railway car, the idea being to dispense with the necessity to handle the sheets `manually either on the floor or in the car.

ln the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation;

Fig. l is a plan view sho-wing the rear wheels ofthe tractor and the Inode of steering them;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the preferred form of sheet lifting rig; and y Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 6 of Fig. 5 and showing mechanism for shifting the rig and the load laterally.

Heretofore, rolled sheets of different commercial widths have been loaded on freight cars er flat cars at the mills very largely, if not exclusively, by hand. That is to say, the sheets have been picked up, a few at a time and either loaded on a small hand truck or carried bodily into a freight car and there stacked in stacks or piles, so arranged that they.Y will not tumble down in transit. Such work is not only very expensive, the cost of handling being as much as forty cents per ton. but, also, is very laborious and slow.

rlhis invention therefore aims to provide an improved portable, self-propelled, conveyer capable ofV picking up whole stacks of sheets weighing several tons, transferring them to the proper place in or on a freight car and depositing them on the floor without anv heavy manual labor. Further, it aims to reduce the cost of loading cars and to expedite the work.

Referring generally to the selected embodiment of the invention, the conveyer comprises a selfpropelled vehicle in the form of tractor having a' short wheel base so that it can be driven around sharp turns into and out of an ordinary railway car. The

frame of the tractor is adapted to straddle a stack of sheets and sheet engaging hooks are suspended between the side frame members from hoisting mechanism adapted to be driven by the tracto-r motor. Further, the hooks or sheet engaging members are constructed and arranged to be opened or closed by the tractor motor.

The preferred form of tractor' is shown as having a substantially rectangular frame 10 conveniently made of standard structural shapes. The front and rear ends are open so that the tractor can straddle stacks of sheets. At the forward end relatively wide frame supports 11 which preferably are covered with sheet metal on the inside and outside, have sprocket wheels 12 at their lower open ends to guide crawler chains 13. At the rear end of the tractor, upright columns or supports 14- in the form of hollow posts carry swivelly mounted wheels 15 mounted on shafts 16 extending upwardly through the columns and adapted to be guided or steered by the tractor steering mechanism hereinafter to be described in detail.

The narrow front crawlers are designed to distribute a great portion of the load on the tracto-r over a substantial area of a railway car floor so that the floor will not break through when the tractor is loaded with, say, ten tons of sheets. Railway companies Will not permit any ordinary wheeled vehicles to be driven into box cars with any such loads. In this instance, the crawlers are arranged to carry at least two-thirds of the load, thus relieving the swivel wheels of a considerable portion of the load.

The driving mechanism for the tractor crawler chains 13 is herein shown as comprising a tractor differential within a housing 17 sup-ported on the forward end of the tractor frame and having crawler chain driving sprockets 18 on the ends of axles 19. The differential is the same as that eml ployed in a well known type of tractor; hence,A no detailed description is necessary. The driving mechanism has provision for steering-bydriving, a steering post 20 for controlling the brake bands (not shown)l projecting upwardly through a removable cover plate 2l. The main shaft 22 of the differential is shown as having a sprocket wheel adjacent to the housing adapted to be driven through clutch-controlled connections by a motor 23 such as an ordinary multi-cylinder gas engine, shown diagrammatically in Fig. l. The clutch connection may be made by an ordinary hand lever 24 at the rear of the tracto-r. The engine is conveniently supported at one side of the center line of the frame by suitable structural elements which it is not necessary to describe, the idea being to malte room for the sheet hoisting mechanism, hereinafter described. This arrangement made it necessary to employ the counter-shaft or main power delivering shaft 25, shown in Fig. l, as being journaled at the opposite side of the frame.

The usual engine clutch is adapted to be controlled by a suitable clutch lever 26 projecting through the rear end of the frame and accessible from a drivers seat 27. @bviously, this lever may be so arranged that it may be operated. either by hand or by a foot pedal or both, such expedients being well lrnown.

The transmission gearing of the engine needs only to include reverse gears to be operated one speed although more speeds may be employed, if desired. Herein, a gear shift lever 26 ig. l) also projects through the rear end of the frame. This lever is placed Within easy reach of the drivers seat.

To steer the tractor in close quarters, the steering wheel 29 is connected both to the differential steering-by-driving mechanism and to the rear swivel wheel shafts. Herein, the steering rod has a worm 30 meshing with a worm wheel 3l on a steering bar or post 32 so that the mechanism is self-locking. A substantially triangular plate 33 is shown as being secured to the steering post and is connected by pivoted links 34 to arms 35 on the shafts 16 The idea. of this arrangement is to permit a di'erential angular movement of the swivel wheels so that the wheel on the inside of a curve will not slide. That is to say, he wheel on the inn side of the curve, when driving forwardly, is turned at a greater angle than the wheel on the outside of the curve. This is important because the whole vehicle or tractor tends to turn about the inside crawler chain to which the steeiingby-driving brake is applied. Hence, the inside rear wheel must roll on a shorter radius than the outside wheel, being closer to the pivot point.

The connection between the steering post 32 and the differential steering mechanism includes lever arms 36 mounted on the posts 82 and 2O and a link e7 pivotally connected to the arms. The arrangement is such that the posts are turned in opposite directions whereby, when the steering wheel is turned, the differential brake will be applied to the Leoaeee axle of the crawler which is on the inside of the curve to be negotiated.

Referring to the lifting rig for the stacks of sheets, there is shown a pair of opposed substantially l.-shaped hook members 3S conveniently made by cutting off one flange of a wide channel beam and utilizing the other tlange to underlie the lower side edges of the bottom sheet in a stack, it being understood that the stacks are supported on blocks or other spacer elements as shown in Fig. 3. The jaws or hook members are preferably suspended from a longitudinal frame 39 composed of spaced structural beams having guides 40 to receive raclrs. 4l connected by arms 42 to the hook members (Fig. The hooks or jaws are adapted to be opened and closed by means of spur gears or pinions 43 mounted on parallel shafts 44 on the frame, each shaft having a worm wheel 45 meshing with a single worm 46 between the wheels and enclosed in a suitable housing 47. The worm is shown having a driving shaft 48 projecting upwardly from the casing. To relieve the racks of bending strains, cables 49 are shown as being connected to their outer ends and trained over sheaves above the beams and wound on tapered drums 50 on the shafts 44, the idea being to keep the cables taut as the jaws open or close. This arrangement will be described in detail and claimed in a separate application.

The rig is suspended by cables 5l trained over sheaves 52 near the opposite ends of the frame and wound on a compound winding drum 53 which is driven by worm and wheel gearing within a casing 54. The worm sha-ft has a pinion 55 meshing with a driving pinion 56, loosely mounted on the main drive shaft and having a positive clutch element 57 cosoperating therewith. The clutch is con" trolled by an operating lever 5S at the rear end of the frame. Thus, the arrangement is such that the hoist is operated entirely by the tractor engine.

The hooks or jaws are also adapted to be opened and closed by the engine. Herein, the shaft 48 has a worm wheel 59 meshing with a worm 60 on a universal, tel-escoping shaft 61 having a sprocket 62 in the upper part of the frame. The sprocket is adapted to be driven by a chain 63 and a sprocket 64 mounted on the countershaft 25. A special friction clutch 65 adapt-ed to slip when the jaws are clamped on a stack of sheets is mounted on the countershaft to cc-operate with the driving sprocket 64. This clutch is also adapted to be controlled by a pivoted lever 66 at the rear end of the tractor frame. As will be observed, the telescoping shaft transmits A' and thereby doing considerable damage, va pair of guide bars 67 are slidably mounted in transverse guides on the rig frame. Flanged rollers 68 on the ends of the bars c0- operate with the opposite side edges of the front columns or supports l1. Thus, the rig is prevented from moving longitudinally. To prevent the rig from swinging laterally and also to permit the load to be manually shifted laterally, a longitudinal shaft 69 is journaled in the frame and carries a pair of winding drums under each bar 67. Cables 70 are wound several times intermediate their ends on each drum and are connected at their ends to the bars near their ends so that, as the drums rotate, they pull the rig to one side or the other (Figs. 5 and 6). The frame 39 slides on the bars 67. The shaft is adapted to be rotated by a self-locking gearing such as a worm wheel 71 and worm 7 2 to which is connected a hand crank 73.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the conveyer embodies all of the advantages of an overhead crane and has the very important advantage of being capable of transferring whole stacks of sheets. Moreover, it is capable of depositing the stacks near the side walls of boX cars and the like and the tractor may be turned around within a very small compass. Further, the tractor motor is utilized to do practically all of the work. Also, it will be understood that it dispenses entirely with the necessity to handle any of the sheets manually, speeds up the loading and unloading operations, and cuts down the cost to a fraction of the present costs.

f Obviously, the present invention is not restricted t-o the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conj ointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

Vhat claim is l. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a self-propelled vehicle adapted to straddle a stack of sheets; sheet engaging hooks suspended from the vehicle between the sides; hoisting means for the hooks; worm and wheel gearing and racks and pinions operatively connected to the hooks and arranged to open and close said hooks; a telescoping shaft connected to drive said worm and wheel gearing when the hooks are in any hoisted position; and clutch controlled, power delivering mea-ns connecting the vehicle motor to the telescoping shaft.

2. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a self-propelled vehicle adapted to straddle a stack of sheets; sheet engaging hooks suspended from the vehicle between the sides; hoisting means for the hooks, worm and wheel gearing and racks yand pinions connected and arranged to vehicle adapt-ed to be driven by the vehicle motor; and driving connections between the power delivering shaft and said telescoping shaft including a friction clutch adapted to be controlled by the vehicle driver.

3. A sheet conveyer of the class described j K comprising, incombination, a self-propelled vehicle adapted to straddle a stack of sheets; sheet engaging hooks suspended from the vehicle between the sides; hoisting means for the hooks; worm and wheel gearing and racks and pinions connected and arranged to open and close said hooks; a telescoping shaft connected to drive said worm and wheel gearing when the hooks are in any hoisted position; a power -delivering shaft on the vehicle; a clutch-controlled driving connection between said power delivering shaft and the hoisting means; and a clutch controlled connection between the power livering shaft and the vehicle motor.

4. A .sheet conveyer' of the class described comprising, in combination, a motor truck adapted to stra-ddle a stack of sheets and to be driven on a railway car or the like; sheet hooks carried by the truck; gearing associated with the hooks to open and close them; hoisting mechanism for the hooks; a power delivering shaft lon the tractor; means connecting the transmission gearing of the vehicle motor to drive the power delivering shaft; a driving connection between said power delivering shaft and said hoisting mechanism; a positive clutch to control said connection; a telescoping drive shaft for said hook operating gearing when the hooks are in any hoisted position and a friction clutchcontrolled connection between said telescoping shaft and said pow-er delivering shaft.

5. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a tractor adapted to straddle a stack of sheets; a sheet hoisting rig suspended from the tractor frame; and a pair of transverse guide bars adjustably connected to the rig and co-operating with the tractor frame to prevent the rig from swinging when the tractor is started 0r stopped or is accelerated.

6. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a tractor adapted to straddle a stack of sheets; a sheet hoisting rig suspended from the ytractor frame including a longitudinal beam and sheet engaging hooks; and a pair of transverse guide members adjustably mounted on said beam and coacting with the tractor frame to prevent the suspended sheets from swinging.

7. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a tractor adapted to straddle a stack of sheets; a sheet hoisting rig suspended from the tractorframe fie and arranged longitudinally thereof; a pair of guide bars eXtendinCr across the rig; and flanged rollers on the bars engaging opposed edges of the tractor frame and arranged to prevent longitudinal swinging movement of the rig.

8. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a tractor adapted to straddle a stack of sheets; a sheet hoisting rig within the tractor frame; a pair of transverse guide members adjustably secured to the rig co--operating with the tractor frame to prevent longitudinal movement of the rig; and means to prevent lateral movement of the rig,

9. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a truck having substantially vertical, narrow side frame members adapted to straddle a stack of sheets; a sheet hoisting rig suspended from the tractor between the side frame members including a longitudinal beam carrying sheet hool; members; a pair of transverse guide bars slidably connected to the beam and having guide rollers cci-operating with the side frame members to prevent longitudinal swinging of the rig; and mechanism associated with the guide bars for shifting the rig laterally and arranged to prevent lateral swinging of the rig.

10. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a truck having substantially vertical, narrow side frame members adapted to straddle a stack of sheet-s; a sheet hoisting rig suspended from the tractor between the side frame members including a longitudinal beam carrying sheet hoolr members; and a pair of transverse guide bars slidably connected to the beam and having guide rollers cooperating with the side frame members to prevent longitudinal swinging of the rig.

11. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a truck having substantially vertical, narrow side frame members adapted to straddle a stack of sheets; a sheet hoisting rig suspended from the tractor between the side frame members including a longitudinal beam carrying sheet hook members; a pair of transverse guide bars slidably connected to the beam and having guide rollers vco-operating with the side frame members to prevent longitudinal swinging of the rig; and manually operable means to shift the rig on the guide bars.

12. A sheet conveyer' of the class described comprising, in combination, a truck having substantially vertical, narrow side frame members adapted to straddle a stack of sheets; a sheet hoisting rig suspended from the tractor between the side frame members including a longitudinal beam carrying sheet hook members; a pair of transverse guide bars slidably connected to the beam and having guide rollers co-operating with the side frame members to prevent longitudinal swinging of the rig; and manually operable means including worm and wheel gearing operatively connected to the guide bars and to the rig to shift the rig laterally of the truck.

13. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a truck having substantially vertical, narrow side frame members adapted to straddle a stack of sheets; a sheet hoisting rig suspended from the tractor between the side frame members including a longitudinal beam carrying sheet hook members; a pair of transverse guide bars slidably connected to the beam and having guide rollers co-operating with the side frame members to prevent longitudinal swinging of the rig; a shaft extending longitudinally of the beam; winding drums on the shaft; cables on the drums connected to the opposite ends o f the guide bars to shift the rig laterally of the truck; and wo-rm and wheel gearing for rotating the shaft for said shifting mechanism serving to prevent lateral swinging of the rig. l

lll. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a motor truck of the crawler type having a rigid frame adapted to straddle a stack of sheets; opposed, substantially L-shaped hooks between the side frame members of the truck; longitudinal beams supporting the hooks; cable hoisting means connected to said beams; selfloclring gearing connected to open and close said hooks; a power-delivering shaft driven by the truck motor; a jointed, telescoping shaft having clutch connections to said power-delivering shaft and operatively connected to said self-locking gearing for opening and closing the hooks in any hoisted position; and transverse guiding members carried by said beams and cooperating with the side frames of the truck to prevent both longitudinal and lateral swaying of a hoisted load.

15. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a motor truck of the crawler type having a rigid frame adapted to straddle a stack of sheets; opposed, substantially L-shaped hooks between the side frame members of the truck; longitudinal beams supporting the hooks; cable hoisting means connected to said beams; selflocking gearing connected to open and close said hooks; a power-delivering shaft driven by the truck motor; a jointed, telescoping shaft having clutch connections to said power-delivering shaft and operatively connected to said self-locking gearing for opening and closing the hooks in any hoisted position; and transverse guiding bars mounted on the hook-supporting beams cooperating with side frames of the truck to prevent a hoisted load from swaying.

16. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a self-propelled truck of the straddle type; a sheet hoisting rig having opposed sheet-gripping hooks suspended between the side frames of the truck; clutch-controlled hoisting and hook-actuating mechanism connected to the truck motor; and guide means on the rig coacting with the truck frame to prevent a hoisted load from swaying.

17. A sheet conveyer of the class described comprising, in combination, a self-propelled truck of the straddle type; a sheet hoisting rig having opposed sheet-gripping hooks suspended between the side frames of the truck; hoisting mechanism suspending the rig hetween the sides of the truck 5 power-driven gearing for actuating the hooks; clutches connecting the hoisting mechanism and the gearing for actuating the hooks to the truck motor; and means on the rig to prevent a hoisted load from swaying.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiixed my signature.

HARRY E. EDWARDS. 

